Why The New ‘Exorcist’ TV Show Is Introducing New Characters

“The Exorcist” season 1 has been picked up by FOX for a fall premiere.

While at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Thursday, executive producers Jeremy Slater and Rupert Wyatt acknowledged the fact that there’s pressure to make the newest version of hit franchise a true success. Slater told Deadline that the other “The Exorcist” movies didn’t do as well as the 1973 original because most of them tried to imitate the same story.

“We’re conscious of that: We can’t retell the same story. We can only make a show that you haven’t seen before with new characters,” he said.

Wyatt added that William Friedkins approached the subject matter of the film as agnostic or as a non-believer. This ultimately set the tone for all of the other “The Exorcist” shows that were released thereafter. However, Slater and Wyatt are looking to introduce new concepts and storylines for the FOX TV series.

“The Exorcist” will follow the life of Father Thomas Ortega (Alfonso Herrera) and Father Marcus Brennan (Ben Daniels) who are both dealing with the Rance family’s demonic possession. The Rance family is led by patriarch Henry (Alan Ruck), who used to work as a civil engineer. Unfortunately, one serious accident left him impaired. Now that he is unemployed, Henry will find himself battling with his inner demons. In person, he will continue to appear warm and loving towards his family members.

Meanwhile, Ruck shared that the writers of the series originally wanted to write Henry’s storyline as someone who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. However, they later on decided to go with a traumatic brain injury.

In other news, the execs also told Variety that the new “The Exorcist” TV show will have slight connections with the old series. Such storylines will be included in the first episodes of the FOX TV show. However, new characters are introduced to differentiate the two stories.

“The Exorcist” season 1 will premiere on FOX on Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. ET.

Alan Ruck has been cast in "The Exorcist." Pictured: Alan Ruck at the FOX's Summer TCA Press Tour in Los Angeles, California, on August 8, 2016. Photo: Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer